Page 32 - Chinese and Asian Ceramics from an Indonesian Collection

Chapter 2. Geography & Past Settlements in the Musi River Basin

In summary, Manguin (1993) considered West appeared to be similar to Javanese temples of the 9th
Palembang was apparently occupied for settlement, and 10th century. But still requires a more precise date
manufacturing, trade and religious purposes, mainly according to Manguin (2009) before it can be placed with
during the early-Sriwijayan period. confidence in the Sriwijaya period, although he says that
it must have been related to the nearby Hujung Langit
UPSTREAM SETTLEMENTS (Bawang) inscription which was dated as 997.
Sriwijaya clearly established firm relations with the The second largest temple site in the Musi River
upstream river system. Temples were usually built at the Basin of Bumiayu (formerly known as Tanah Abang) was
confluence of most Musi River tributaries, some prior located some 80 kilometres upstream of Palembang on
to the usual accepted date of the formation of Sriwijaya. the Lematang River. The two nearby sites of Modong
Some of these brick temples were large indicating a large and Babat, visited by Tombrink in 1865, have been
workforce was required to build them (Manguin 2002). destroyed. Modern excavations by Indonesian and
foreign archaeologist on the Bumiayu complex are
Early phase described by Manguin (2009). It is spread over 15
Buddhism moved early to the upstream areas of the hectares and comprised ten earthen mounds with brick
Musi River. For example, at Bingin Jungut (see site in structures, three of which were temples which revealed
Figure 3), said to be the highest navigable point by larger Saivite images in the Kediri style of late-10th century, and
boats because of a cataract, an unfinished stone Buddha two minute Buddhist images. The temples were richly
statue, made in situ, was found, along with a four-armed decorated with terracotta high reliefs, sculptures and
stone Avalokiteshvara statue, both 7th to 8th century. plaques related to late Central Javanese art of the 9th
Foundation of a brick building; a 700 metre long dike; to 10th century. The Chinese ceramics found at that site
beads, iron slag and Song pottery from the 10th to 13th also dated from that period. Westenenk (1923) reported
century were also found. Other sites such as Candi a possible temple site near Desa Pangkalan Bayat, on a
Tingkip was another 6th to 9th century site with ruins of tributary of Sungai Lalan, just outside the Musi River
a brick temple and a Dvaravati style Buddha statue; some Basin). It had 11th to 12th century surface shards of
13th and 14th century Chinese pottery shards were also Chinese ceramics.
found there (Edwards McKinnon 1985). Manguin (2009) Some sites have not been well documented. These
reports that no sites south of Palembang are known to be included Muara Kelingi which comprised a few large
earlier than 800 and as such he cautiously suggests that bricks. On the left bank of the Musi, immediately opposite
the Komering, Lematang and Ogan River valleys were the confluence with the Air Kelingi, shards of 13th to
outside Sriwijaya’s influence during the first decades of 14th century Chinese stoneware, including fragments
Sriwijaya. However, he argues that following the return of Longquan green ware, have been recovered (Edwards
of the Sailendra Sriwijaya ruler Balaputradewa (following McKinnon 1985). Nearby Bukit Candi (near to Candi
his defeat in Java), mid-9th century sites in the highland Tingkip) had a brick building, a massive somasutra,
areas of the Musi River Basin became more populous. probably a yoni, which was thought by Manguin (2009)
Figure 3 shows the distribution of settlements in the Musi to date from the later years of Sriwijaya or post Sriwijaya.
River Basin that were contemporary with Sriwijaya, and Another important site is Teluk Kijing which has an earthen
with those which also pre-dated Sriwijaya. It shows that mound, the Makam Puyang Candi, and Chinese ceramic
the whole of this Basin was likely engaged with Sriwijaya shards dated from the 12th to 14th century. Sareka, on the
in some way. left bank of the Musi between Sekayu and Muara Lakitan,
The sites on the Komering River indicate that this was and Babat and Modong, on the Lematang River, were
also an important route to highland communities. This all reported by Westenenk (1923) to have had a temple.
is reinforced by the discovery in 2014 by sand miners Candi Lesung Batu, a 10th century Hindu complex of
working the Komering River at Negeri Agung, near Candi four buildings, marl stones and a yoni was located at
Nikan, of 25 kilograms of 10th century ‘Northern’ Song Desa Lesu Batu, Rawas Ulu. It was excavated in 1992 by
Dynasty coins. At that time Retno Purwanti commented the Balai Arkeologi Palembang and Pusat Penelitian Arkeologi
(Jakarta Post, 27 October 2014) that these coins prove Nasional (Kompas 16 February 2014).
that the Komering River was a busy and major trade route We have been unable to gain additional information
during a time when Sriwijaya was reaching the peak of its about ancient objects found at Tanjung Raja on the Ogan
political and commercial power. Candi Nikan comprised River; Kayu Agung on the Komering River; Ulak Beko on
a large high earthen mound covering a brick structure. the Komering River; and ceramic remains from the Belani
Some large bricks were carved and decorated. But no area, some 60 miles upstream of Palembang (Edwards
statues or ceramics were found in the mound, although McKinnon 1985, Damais 1963 and Wolters 2008).
a few surface ceramic shards dated to the 13th–14th Tanah Abang was a larger site compared to other
century were recorded. Approximately 130 km further Hindu sites in the region. It was occupied from the 9th
upstream at the source of the Komering River are the to 12th centuries. It had six temples, artificial ponds,
ruins of the Japara stone rectangular base which was statues of Hindu gods, and surface pottery. It was the
thought to be the base of a Hindu shrine from which an second largest site in South Sumatra. Edwards McKinnon
image was removed in 1885 (Schnitger 1937). That site (2003) considered it unique in Sumatra because its

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